Taxonomy of High Mass X-ray binaries from a historical perspective

Abstract

High-mass X-ray binaries serve as important laboratories for studying a broad range of fundamental astrophysical questions. These systems host two distinct types of astrophysical objects at different stages of stellar evolution: a massive donor star and a compact object. I will explore how our understanding of these systems has evolved over the past 50 years, from the dawn of the X-ray astronomy era to the present day. Along this historical journey, I will introduce the various classes and sub-classes of high-mass X-ray binaries and highlight their key observational characteristics.